| On the first day of August in 1873, Andrew S. Hallidies introduced the cable car, powered by an underground moving cable, to the City of San Francisco and created a revolution in urban transportation. By 1877 it was being used in cities throughout the United States. Steep hills were now able to be used for homes and business. The first line was 2,500 feet long and climbed a hill 307 feet high. Today you can ride on the two lines that are still in operation. Both are protected as National Historical Landmarks. The early one truck 4-wheel cars, as illustrated here, were extended, with the addition of an enclosed passenger section, to two trucks with 8 wheels. The front operating section of the car is of the same design as this early example. |
